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Saturated Buffers Improving Iowa Water Quality

AMES, Iowa – Using science-based research, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialists are working to improve the quality of water throughout the state of Iowa. The use of saturated buffers in watersheds has proven to be a successful nitrate management practice.

ISU Extension and Outreach has been forging partnerships with private land-owners in Iowa watersheds to establish saturated buffers. These buffers reduce the movement of sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen into surface water while redirecting water into the root zone of the buffer.

About Lynn Laws

Communications Specialist for the Sustainable Corn project, an innovative research project in the US Corn-belt. Through research, education, outreach and partnerships with farmers, our team of scientists, from 10 universities in the upper Midwest, seeks to identify and advance farmer practices and public policies that increase Midwestern crop resilience and adaptability to a warming climate, while minimizing environmental impacts and maintaining or increasing farm profits.

This blog is collaborative effort of two USDA-NIFA supported projects, Useful to Usable and Sustainable Corn. For more information about these projects please visit the following websites: www.sustainablecorn.org and www.AgClimate4U.org. This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2011-68002-30190. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.